When Should I See a Fertility Specialist?
Having trouble getting pregnant? How do you know when the issue warrants a fertility specialist? See a fertility specialist for an evaluation
You’ve been trying for over a year, or 6 months if you’re over 35
The standard recommendation is that if you’re under 35 and have been trying unsuccessfully for a year, it’s a good idea to get a fertility workup.
You’ve been diagnosed with cancer.
Discuss with your options for preserving fertility through cancer with your oncologist and with a fertility specialist . This could include things like freezing your eggs before treatment, freezing ovarian tissue, or even moving the ovaries away from areas of radiation.
You have really painful or irregular periods.
This could be a sign of an ovulatory disorder, commonly PCOS, a hormone condition interrupting ovulation, causing irregular painful periods, or makes periods disappear for months at a time.
You’ve had pelvic inflammatory disease.
PID is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and occasionally ovaries. These infections can cause inflammation that can lead to scarring. This scarring can interrupt ovulation, or simply physically block the fallopian tubes and prevent a sperm and egg from meeting.
You’ve had multiple pelvic surgeries or procedures done on your reproductive organs
Besides infections and inflammation, scarring can also be caused by repeated removal of ovarian cysts, multiple ectopic pregnancies, or other invasive surgeries that leave scar tissue in the reproductive tract. The more procedures you’ve had done, the higher the risk of scar tissue buildup that may inhibit fertility.
You have endometriosis
Similarly to PID, endometriosis can cause scarring. Adhesions and scar tissue that can build up as a result of endometriosis can effect your fertility. Treatments and outcomes vary greatly, but for many people, removing scar tissue can improve pregnancy outcomes, especially when paired with fertility treatments like IVF.
You’re over 40
The older a woman gets, the greater chance her eggs will contain chromosomal abnormalities, which can result in miscarriage or the baby having a serious condition like Down Syndrome. If you’re over 40 and want to conceive, it’s not off the table, but seeing a fertility specialist will help you assess your risks
A genetic condition runs in your family
Preconception genetic counseling can give a couple a clear view of whether they carry the genetic mutation for an illness or condition, it can also give you the odds of passing the condition on to your baby. Risks can be mitigated by a fertility specialist. Dr. Ryan will lay out the options you have, including IVF paired with preimplantation genetic screening to select an embryo that doesn’t have the mutation.
Ready to Get Started?
To see how the Blue Sky Fertility can put your fertility goals in motion, call us at 816-301-5506 to schedule an appointment, or fill out the form and we will contact you.
** PLEASE NOTE ** Blue Sky Fertility is not a sperm bank, and does not provide compensation for donated sperm.
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